Saturday, June 29, 2013

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the possibility
of stimulating sexual development at an early age in male and female broiler
chickens by administration of apilarnil, a natural bee product, in the
pre-pubertal period.

2. From 28 to 55 d of age, birds were given apilarnil
orally. The effects of low (2.5 g/bird) and high (7.5 g/bird) doses of
apilarnil on growth performance, testicular weight, secondary sexual
characteristics, blood lipids, testosterone and fearful behaviour were
evaluated.

3. Apilarnil administration did not cause a positive effect
on growth performance of male and female broilers suggesting that apilarnil did
not have an anabolic effect.

4. Apilarnil administration suppressed blood glucose and
cholesterol.

5. Birds receiving apilarnil remained immobile for a shorter
period in a tonic immobility test and showed less home-cage avoidance responses
suggesting a lower level of fearfulness.

6. Increases in testicular weight, testosterone
concentration and comb growth in males receiving apilarnil implied that it
stimulates the sexual maturation at an early age. However, a similar
stimulation of secondary sexual characteristics was not observed in females.